Economics MS Degree Program

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Purdue University offers an innovative online Master’s degree in Economics designed for individuals with strong analytical backgrounds, such as individuals with undergraduate majors in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines.

In 2015, The Financial Engineer ranked the program in the top 10 percent of all MS degree programs in Economics (13th out of 157 programs).

The MS degree in Economics at Purdue University is a 30-credit-hour program (standard for MS programs) that spans two academic years (19 months). The curriculum is demanding, and taught by a talented and dedicated staff of instructors drawn from the full-time faculty members of the Department of Economics at Purdue University. Click on the following link for information on applying to the program: Admission information link

Advantages of a MS degree in Economics

With expanding access to extensive datasets, both public and proprietary, individuals who have the tools to analyze and interpret economic data, including the ability to apply the results to decision making in managerial and public policy environments, have become highly valued. The MS degree in Economics

provides students who have strong quantitative skills a foundation for formulating and estimating economic models through the use of econometrics and other quantitative techniques;

builds on this foundation either by offering specific applications of the analysis in various business settings (the Applied Economics/Business concentration) or by offering more in depth theoretical modeling skills (the Advanced Theory concentration or thesis option).

Fully Online Program Schedule

The standard MS degree program is a part-time, online program that combines a first-year common core set of courses in Economic theory and Econometrics with a set of second-year courses that provide a concentration in either Applied Economics/Business or in Advanced Economic Theory. Depending on the concentration chosen, the program provides decision-making skills helpful in managerial and policy making positions (Applied Economics/Business concentration) or prepares students for entry into PhD programs in Economics (Advanced Theory concentration). The program is designed so that it can be completed entirely online, with each class of entering students working together in common online sections of the courses. The online course content is exactly comparably to in-class courses offered on the Purdue campus, as courses in the program have both in-class and online sections. For more information on the non-thesis MS curriculum, click on the following link: Curriculum information link

Optional Hybrid Online/On-campus Program

STEM students from Universities around the world who are interested in pursuing a MS degree that combines online courses with an on-campus experience should consider the hybrid MS degree. The hybrid program requires students to come to Purdue for the second year to finish their course requirements, with the option of completing a thesis. The hybrid program is recommended for students considering pursuing a PhD and for international students who would like to experience on-campus life at a top U.S. research university. Purdue University is rich in diversity; this past year Purdue ranked second in international student enrollment among all public United States colleges and universities. Coming to Purdue in the second year is of particular value for students who are preparing for admission into PhD programs in Economics or other advanced degree programs. For more information on the curriculum for the hybrid MS degree program, click on the following link: Curriculum information link

Combined Degree Option for Purdue STEM majors

The combined degree program allows current Purdue undergraduate STEM majors to count up to nine credit hours of course work in the MS degree toward the completion of both their BS degree (elective requirements) and their MS degree in Economics. After graduating with a BS degree, students then can complete online the remainder of the required MS courses to earn a MS degree in Economics while employed. For more more information on this combined degree, click on the following link: BS/MS Combined Degree link